What Can I Put on the Ground in My Chicken Pen?

Substrates are the substances used to line the bottom of a chicken pen, and finding a suitable one can prove challenging. The right substrate allows your chicken to peck and dig, while still keeping the cage clean. Your substrate needs will vary depending on the location of the pen and the prevailing weather. Many chicken keepers find it works best to combine several types of substrate.

  1. Gravel

    • Gravel is an ideal substrate for outdoor enclosures in muddy and rainy areas. It minimizes runoff and prevents mud from creating a mess in the enclosure. Many farm and home supply stores sell gravel designed for chicken coops. Most chickens will not eat gravel, so it's generally a safe solution.

    Sand

    • Like gravel, sand repels mud, but it will become soggy and messy if you live in an especially rainy area. Sand also allows chickens to exercise their natural pecking and digging instincts, which means you won't have to spend as much time on environmental enrichment. Choose sand designed for chicken coops and avoid playground and reptile sands, on which chickens can choke.

    Pine Shavings

    • Pine shavings are soft, eliminate some odors and work well for indoor and enclosed chicken coops. Shavings also provide chickens with nesting and pecking material, making their enclosure more interesting for them. For chickens housed outdoors in uncovered areas, however, pine shavings will quickly get soggy and must be changed frequently.

    Hay and Grass

    • Orchard grass hay is sweet-smelling, edible, and absorbs waste and moisture. It also allows chickens to dig and peck as they would in the wild. It is easily washed away in a storm, though, and needs to be changed frequently. Similarly, various grasses including crabgrass and clover can be used as a substrate or planted in the pen. Planted grasses may die because of frequent pecking, but grass often works well as a substrate.

    Toys and Enrichment

    • Chickens are intelligent animals that must exercise their natural instincts to remain happy and healthy. Place perches on the ground as well as balls, clusters of strings and other items for your chickens to play with.